Logan’s POV
As I watch Ethan walk into the apartment, my instincts scream at me to confront him. I want to march right up to him and demand answers. But I keep my cool, observing him instead.
Ethan looks uneasy, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape route.
He’s not comfortable with the situation, but I’m not sure why. Did he expect things to go differently? Did he think Nadine would be hurt, or worse?
My thoughts are interrupted by the memory of the man I captured at the scene of the accident.
I take a deep breath, trying to process everything. I need to stay calm and get to the bottom of this. But it’s hard when all I want to do is protect Nadine from whatever danger is lurking around her.
I glance over at Nadine, who’s watching Ethan with confusion and fear. I can see the uncertainty in her eyes, and it kills me.
Ethan takes a step closer to Nadine, and my instincts flare up again. I want to push him away, to keep him from getting too close.
But I hold back. Ethan’s eyes turn to me, and for a moment, I think I see a flash of anger.
Flashback
I bark orders at my men, with command. “Take him to the basement. Now.”
They quickly move to obey, dragging the struggling prisoner down the stairs. I follow close behind.
I change into comfortable clothes, my thoughts turn to Isabelle. Her death still doesn’t sit right with me. I’m convinced they succeeded in eliminating her, but something doesn’t add up.
I hurry downstairs, my eyes scanning the basement. My men are surrounding the man from the accident scene, Dave looks up, noticing my arrival. “Oh, boss, you’re here.”
I nod at Dave, expecting to hear the update. “Has he said anything yet?”
Dave shakes his head. “No, boss. He said he’ll only talk to you.”
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “That’s strange.”
I approach the man, my eyes looking at his battered face. He looks up. His face is a mess of blood and bruises, as a result of the torture.
“I didn’t do anything, please,” he begs, his eyes pleading for mercy. “Just let me go. I’m just a man trying to make a living and provide for my family. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
I could sense desperation in his voice, and for a moment, I wondered if he was telling the truth. But I’ve seen my fair share of liars.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
He hesitates, wincing in pain. “My name is… is Michael.”
But as I look into his eyes, I notice something that doesn’t quite add up. That seems to pique my curiosity.
“What do you do for a living, Michael?”
He hesitates, his eyes darting around the room. “I’m a mechanic, just a simple mechanic trying to make a living. Please, just let me go.” He begs, but I am not moved by his plea, I have seen enough to believe just his words.
“A mechanic, huh?” I repeat, my voice soft. “That’s interesting, and you tampered with the trunk brake and watched till the end, how it crashed into that car, right?” I conclude.
Michael’s eyes widen in shock as he finally looks up at me, but I can tell he’s not ready to back down yet.
“You lie, Mr. West!” he protests, trying to sound convincing. “I did no such thing!”
I take a step closer, my eyes locked intensely on him. “Fool me once, that’s on me. Fool me twice; that’s a joke on you,” I say in a low voice. I could tell that he was unable to maintain eye contact.
I know I’ve got him cornered. He’s trying to deny it, but his body language tells a different story.
“Michael, I need to know what you know about Isabelle’s death,” I pressed on, my eyes locked onto his. “Tell me the truth, and maybe we can work out a deal.”
Michael’s eyes dart around the room as if searching for an escape route. But he knows he’s trapped.
I lean in, “now, if I were you, I’d start talking,” I say, trying to reason with him. “The people you’re involved with are dangerous, and they’ll stop at nothing to end your life.”
Michael’s eyes are cast down, and I gently tilt his head up, forcing him to meet my gaze. His eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, I see fear in his eyes.
“They won’t hesitate to use you and discard you like trash, you’re just a pawn in their game, Michael. But I can offer you protection if you cooperate.” I press on to make him see the reasons.
“I…” Michael starts, but his voice trails off. Then, without warning, his body begins to jerk violently, like he’s having a seizure. I watch in horror.
“What the fuck?” I mutter to my men, stunned by the sudden turn of events.
“Ethan…” Michael gasps, his voice barely audible between convulsions.
The mention of Ethan’s name snaps me back to reality. I remember Isabelle’s warning – that he’s with Nadine for the wrong reasons. I grab my phone to call my men stationed at her house.
As I wait for an answer, Michael’s jerking stops. He’s still, his eyes frozen in a permanent stare. I’m about to breathe a sigh of relief when my phone crackles to life.
“Sir, she’s been attacked,” a voice says. “In her house.”
My heart sinks. “Oh my goodness,” I exclaim, my eyes fixed on Michael’s lifeless body.
I step closer to Michael. That’s when I saw it – a small tube protruding from his neck. “What the fuck is this?” I mutter, my mind racing with questions.
One of my men, Drake, came closer; he furrowed his brow in confusion.
Then, Drake speaks up, “He was on borrowed time.” And suddenly, everything clicks into place.
Michael’s words and Isabelle’s warning all point to one person – Ethan. That bloody fool, I had known something was off about him, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Now, it all makes sense.
End of flashback
******
As I watch the officers walk out the door, processing the shocking events that just unfolded.
I can feel Ethan’s eyes on me, boring into my skin, and I know I need to proceed with caution.
He didn’t want the suspect caught, not like this. I can sense his frustration, and I wonder what he’s hiding.
I hold my breath, hoping that the officers will be able to extract some crucial information from the suspect. Who was behind the attack? What was their motive?
I turn to face Nadine, and my heart goes out to her. She’s visibly shaken. All I want to do is wrap my arms around her, hold her close, and calm her racing heart.
But before I can even take a step, Ethan rushes to her side, pulling her into a tight embrace.
At first, Nadine is startled, her body stiffening in surprise.
She tries to pull away, but Ethan holds her still.
I need to keep my distance, at least for now. So I turn to leave, trying to give her space.
As I walk away, I feel someone’s eyes on me. I turn to see Nadine staring at me, her gaze piercing. But it’s what she says next that catches me off guard…